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Black Caps complete massive victory over West Indies

Author
Dylan Cleaver, NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Sun, 6 Dec 2020, 1:39PM
(Photo / Photosport)
(Photo / Photosport)

Black Caps complete massive victory over West Indies

Author
Dylan Cleaver, NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Sun, 6 Dec 2020, 1:39PM

Another home test, another victory. New Zealand's hunger to establish themselves as one of the most formidable sides in the world shows no sign of easing.

The Black Caps put aside a rare case of the drops for long enough to claim the three wickets required for an innings and 134 run victory in Hamilton.

While the win appeared an inevitability from early on day three when Tim Southee knocked the top off the West Indian first innings, triggering a spectacular collapse, the hosts were made to work well into the fourth day.

"It was a really good performance from us," captain and man of the match Kane Williamson said without fear of rebuttal.

"The West indies middle and lower order played really, really nicely and we had to put in for long periods with the ball," Williamson said. "We had to show patience today and that was great to see because that's what you expect to see on days three and four when the surface is improving."

The West Indies started the day at 196-6 but were effectively seven down with Shane Dowrich unable to bat after injuring a finger.

The visitors frustrated New Zealand for the first hour, with Jermaine Blackwood riding his luck to a second test century in a record 155-run seventh wicket partnership with Alzarri Joseph.

That was broken when Joseph holed out to deep point off Kyle Jamieson for a career-best 86. That wicket was quickly followed by the tireless Neil Wagner inducing a mishit pull from Blackwood (104). Shannon Gabriel was keen to get back to his room and pack for Wellington judging by his hopeless heave at a straight ball in the same over.

Wagner was the pick of the bowlers with 4-66.

It was a towering performance from New Zealand in all but one respect.

Their first innings of 519-7 was constructed on the back of Kane Williamson's epic 251, while the four-pronged pace attack was too good for the West Indies, rolling them for 138 and 247.

If there is one thing New Zealand have established a reputation for it is their fielding. That reputation took a minor dent in Hamilton as tiredness crept in. The catching in the second innings was sketchy, lowlighted by Ross Taylor spilling the easiest chance of his career at first slip.

It wasn't quite Joe Denly dropping Kane Williamson at this ground a year ago, but it wasn't far off and the result was the same. Williamson went on to make an unbeaten century;

Blackwood, on 89 at the time, brought up three figures shortly after.

These things tend to happen in follow-on innings but it would have been galling for fatigued bowlers to watch chance after chance find the turf.

That was the one blip in an otherwise terrific outing. It was the Black Caps 10th win in their past 14 unbeaten tests at home.

The second starts in Wellington on Friday.

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